Congress is now at a critical juncture in its feeble effort thus far to get it together and come up with a sensible energy bill that addresses global warming and the need for renewable energy.

The House and Senate, which two months ago approved separate versions of an energy bill, now are working to come up with a plan that — one would hope — will move us away from our oil dependency and toward more renewable energy sources.

Strengthening key elements of both versions of these bills to produce a sensible and forward-looking energy plan is the way to go.

That plan, of course, must include fuel efficiency standards. While absent from the House version, the Senate plan seeks a solid 40 percent improvement by 2020. Those standards will be key to reducing oil consumption.

On the renewable energy front, the House looks to utilities to generate at least 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. Even that doesn't go far enough. Still, Senate Republicans, seemingly swayed by utility lobbyists, managed to skirt this issue altogether. Any version emerging from Congress must include a push toward renewable and alternative energy sources.

Absent any real progress on Capitol Hill, the states have thankfully taken the lead.

Beginning today, governors from key Western states are launching a TV ad campaign to win public support for national climate-change legislation tied to renewable energy. And nine Midwestern governors, along with Manitoba's premier, have signed an agreement to reduce carbon emissions and devise a system to meet lower emission targets.

Our nation's governors are stepping up to the plate, and showing leadership on the issues of renewable energy and climate change.

Let's hope Congress will follow that lead and come up with a sensible energy bill — one that recognizes the fragility of our environment and sets the right example on a global stage by establishing a smart course toward sustainable and renewable energy sources well into the future.